No, CBS All Access Does Not Come Free With Amazon Prime in 2026
If you‘re an Amazon Prime member, you may be wondering: can I get CBS All Access for free? The short answer is no, CBS All Access does not come included with an Amazon Prime subscription.
In this helpful guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about CBS All Access and its relationship to Amazon Prime Video. We‘ll cover:
- What happened to CBS All Access
- How much Paramount+ costs
- What‘s included with Paramount+
- Pros and cons of Paramount+
- Other Amazon Prime Video channels
- Is Prime Video worth it?
- Amazon Prime membership costs
- Additional Amazon Prime perks
By the end, you‘ll have all the details to decide if adding Paramount+ makes sense for your streaming needs as a Prime member. Let‘s dive in!
What Happened to CBS All Access?
Previously, CBS offered a streaming service called CBS All Access. This gave subscribers access to live CBS broadcasts and thousands of CBS shows on demand.
However, as of March 2021, CBS All Access was rebranded and expanded into Paramount+. This new service incorporated content from CBS, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and more.
So in essence, CBS All Access no longer exists – it‘s now Paramount+. And unfortunately, Paramount+ is not included free with Amazon Prime.
How Much Does Paramount+ Cost?
As an Amazon Prime member, you can add Paramount+ to your account for an additional monthly fee. Here are the Paramount+ pricing options as of 2024:
| Paramount+ Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Essential (With Ads) | $4.99 | $49.99 |
| Premium (No Ads) | $9.99 | $99.99 |
| Essential + Showtime | $11.99 | $119.99 |
| Premium + Showtime | $14.99 | $149.99 |
As you can see, you can get Paramount+ for as little as $4.99/month on the ad-supported Essential plan. This is quite affordable compared to many streaming services!
The Premium no ads plan runs $9.99/month. And you can also bundle Paramount+ with Showtime.
One downside is the annual pricing doesn‘t offer huge savings vs. monthly. But going annual does ensure your rates are locked in for the year.
Now let‘s cover exactly what kind of content you get with Paramount+.
What‘s Included with Paramount+?
Paramount+ offers a huge streaming library with over 30,000 episodes, 2,500 movie titles, and 1,000+ live sporting events.
You get access to shows, movies and exclusives from the following brands:
- CBS
- Paramount Pictures
- Comedy Central
- MTV
- Nickelodeon
- BET
- Smithsonian Channel
Notable shows include:
- Star Trek Discovery
- NCIS
- Big Brother
- Survivor
- SpongeBob Squarepants
- The Daily Show
- RuPaul‘s Drag Race
- The Challenge
- South Park
Plus Paramount+ Originals like 1883, Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone.
For movies, you can watch the Mission Impossible series, Transformers, A Quiet Place, and more from Paramount Pictures. Plus hundreds of other popular films.
And live sports fans can tune into NFL games, PGA Tour events, and UEFA Champions League soccer.
So Paramount+ really aims to offer "something for everyone" whether you like reality shows, comedies, dramas, movies, kids content or live sports.
Next let‘s compare some pros and cons of Paramount+.
Paramount+ Pros
- Affordable pricing – Starts at just $4.99/month
- Huge content library – 30,000+ episodes, 2,500+ movies
- Original exclusives – Such as 1883, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Live sports – NFL, NCAA March Madness, soccer and more
- Ads optional – Upgrade to the Premium plan for ad-free viewing
- Download shows offline – For when you‘re on the go
Paramount+ Cons
- No new theatrical movies – Unlike HBO Max and Netflix
- Occasional missing shows – Certain titles expire or move to other streamers
- Limited 4K / HDR – Only available on some originals and live sports
- No offline downloads on mobile – Can only download on connected TVs
So Paramount+ may appeal if you‘re a fan of CBS and Viacom properties. But it doesn‘t have the volume of high-profile originals as services like Netflix.
Next, let‘s look at some other popular add-ons for Amazon Prime Video.
Other Amazon Prime Video Channels
Paramount+ isn‘t the only add-on streaming option for Prime Video. Here are some other popular channels available:
| Channel | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Showtime | $10.99/month | Original series, movies, docs, and live sports from Showtime |
| Starz | $8.99/month | Starz originals plus Hollywood movies |
| AMC+ | $8.99/month | AMC shows like The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul and more |
| discovery+ | $6.99/month | Lifestyle shows from HGTV, Food Network, TLC & more |
| PBS Masterpiece | $5.99/month | Award-winning British dramas like Downton Abbey |
| Noggin | $7.99/month | Educational entertainment for preschoolers |
As of January 2023, there are over 80 channels available on Prime Video in the United States. And many run promotional pricing specials.
For example, Starz is currently available for $0.99 a month for two months. Sports channels like NBA League Pass offer discounts during the off-season.
So be sure to check which add-on channels offer your must-have shows and watch for deals.
Is Amazon Prime Video Worth It?
For many consumers, getting the most out of Amazon Prime depends heavily on how much you use Prime Video.
Here are some of the best benefits of having an Amazon Prime Video membership:
-
Original series – Award-winning shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy‘s Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters and more
-
Blockbuster movies – Recent films like The Tomorrow War starring Chris Pratt
-
X-Ray perks – Get extra info as you watch like cast and soundtrack details
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Easy add-ons – Seamlessly add other premium channels like Paramount+
-
Download for offline viewing – Download titles to watch without wifi
-
Watch Party – Stream together with distant friends and family
According to a 2022 survey of U.S. adults by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, around 72% of Prime members said they use Prime Video.
And in a 2021 survey by Forbes, 75% of respondents said Prime Video was an "important" benefit of Prime.
So for many members, access to included movies, shows, and features makes Prime Video a significant perk.
Of course, Prime also offers plenty of other benefits like free shipping. Next let‘s look at what Amazon Prime costs.
What‘s the Price of Amazon Prime in 2024?
Here is an overview of current Amazon Prime membership costs in the United States:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $14.99/month | n/a |
| Annual | n/a | $139/year |
| Student | $7.49/month | $69/year |
| EBT or Medicaid | $6.99/month | n/a |
For most members, the annual plan offers the best deal at just about $11.58 per month.
Students get an even lower price at $7.49 monthly. And those receiving government assistance may qualify for $6.99/month.
Overall, Prime seems reasonably priced considering everything that is included. And new members can try it free for 30 days.
Next let‘s look at some of the other top perks beyond streaming video.
Top Amazon Prime Benefits
Besides Prime Video, here are some of the most popular Amazon Prime perks:
-
Free two-day shipping – Quick delivery on millions of eligible items
-
Same-day delivery – Get up to 3 million items delivered within hours
-
Amazon Music – Over 100 million songs ad-free
-
Prime Gaming – Free games, in-game content, and a free Twitch channel sub every month
-
Prime Reading – Access a rotating selection of free ebooks and magazines
-
Photo storage – Free unlimited cloud photo storage
-
Prime Day – Exclusive annual sale with huge deals for members
-
Prime Try Before You Buy – Try on clothes for seven days before purchasing
According to a Forbes Advisor survey, the top three Prime benefits beyond shipping were Prime Video, Prime Day, and Prime Music.
So overall, Prime comes packed with extras that appeal to shoppers, streamers, gamers, readers, and more.
The Bottom Line: Paramount+ Isn‘t Free With Amazon Prime
To summarize, Paramount+ does not come included with an Amazon Prime membership.
The rebranded CBS All Access service now starts at $4.99/month for ad-supported viewing or $9.99/month ad-free as a Prime Video add-on.
While not free, Paramount+ may be worth it for fans of CBS shows, Paramount movies, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and more thanks to its large content library.
And Prime Video itself offers plenty of included movies, original series, and helpful features if you want to maximize the value of your Prime subscription.
So consider your viewing preferences. If you must have access to CBS and Viacom properties, Paramount+ may be a cost-effective add-on.
But you can get plenty of great entertainment from Prime Video alone for just the cost of your Prime membership.
Either way, hopefully this guide gave you all the details to make an informed decision! Enjoy streaming.